Ecological relationships between non-cultivated plants and insect predators in agroecosystems: the case of Dittrichia viscosa (Asteraceae) and Macrolophus melanotoma (Hemiptera: Miridae)

dc.contributor.author	Perdikis, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Favas, C	en
dc.contributor.author	Lykouressis, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Fantinou, A	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-06-06T06:47:41Z
dc.date.available	2014-06-06T06:47:41Z
dc.date.issued	2007	en
dc.identifier.issn	1146609X	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actao.2006.12.005	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://62.217.125.90/xmlui/handle/123456789/3753
dc.subject	Alternative prey	en
dc.subject	Conservation	en
dc.subject	Life table	en
dc.subject	Omnivory	en
dc.subject	Weed	en
dc.subject.other	agricultural ecosystem	en
dc.subject.other	aphid	en
dc.subject.other	biological control	en
dc.subject.other	dicotyledon	en
dc.subject.other	host plant	en
dc.subject.other	life table	en
dc.subject.other	omnivory	en
dc.subject.other	plant-insect interaction	en
dc.subject.other	predator-prey interaction	en
dc.subject.other	trophic interaction	en
dc.subject.other	weed	en
dc.subject.other	Aphididae	en
dc.subject.other	Asteraceae	en
dc.subject.other	Capitophorus	en
dc.subject.other	Dittrichia viscosa	en
dc.subject.other	Hemiptera	en
dc.subject.other	Hexapoda	en
dc.subject.other	Macrolophus	en
dc.subject.other	Macrolophus caliginosus	en
dc.subject.other	Macrolophus melanotoma	en
dc.subject.other	Miridae	en
dc.title	Ecological relationships between non-cultivated plants and insect predators in agroecosystems: the case of Dittrichia viscosa (Asteraceae) and Macrolophus melanotoma (Hemiptera: Miridae)	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1016/j.actao.2006.12.005	en
heal.publicationDate	2007	en
heal.abstract	Species of the genus Macrolophus (Hemiptera: Miridae) are thought to be effective predators in reducing the numbers of several pests in vegetable crops. These predators are omnivorous as in addition to prey they also utilize plant sap for growth and development. Populations of these predators build in non-crop host plants and provide inoculum that augments natural control of insect pests in adjacent crops. However, to enhance their effectiveness in crops requires knowledge of their trophic relationships with host plants. In this study, the ecological relationships between the predator Macrolophus melanotoma (Costa) ( = M. caliginosus Wagner) and its most important natural host plant Dittrichia viscosa L. (W. Greuter) (Asteraceae) were investigated in the laboratory and in field studies. A 2-year field study of M. melanotoma populations on D. viscosa was made using the percentage of plants infested by C. inulae as a measure of aphid prey abundance. The field studies revealed that M. melanotoma populations were present throughout the year on D. viscosa reaching highest numbers in June and July despite very low levels of aphid infested plants. Laboratory life table studies were used to compare the survival and reproduction of the predator on D. viscosa leaves alone and leaves plus aphid prey (Capitophorus inulae (Passerini)). Predators reared on D. viscosa leaves plus aphid prey had an average developmental time of 16.73 days, fecundity was 69.55 eggs/female and the intrinsic rate of population increase was 0.0614/day. When fed only leaves, the developmental time was 21.13 days, fecundity was 10.80 eggs/female and the intrinsic rate of population increase was 0.0229/day. The results of the two studies suggest an important role for D. viscosa in conserving and augmenting M. melanotoma in agro ecosystems, and in the development of natural control augmentation strategies in vegetable crops. © 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.	en
heal.journalName	Acta Oecologica	en
dc.identifier.issue	3	en
dc.identifier.volume	31	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/j.actao.2006.12.005	en
dc.identifier.spage	299	en
dc.identifier.epage	306	en